Cllr Bill Weightman voted Chair of Merseyside Police Authority
Date: 24th June
2011
For immediate
release
Cllr Bill Weightman was voted as Chairman of
Merseyside Police Authority for an eighth year at the
Authority's Annual Meeting this week.
Merseyside Police Authority also welcomed new Members, Cllr Jan Clein, a Liberal Democrat Member representing Liverpool City Council and Cllr Tony Smith, a Labour Member representing Wirral Council.
Cllr Bill Weightman, said: 'It's an honour and a privilege to have been voted Chairman of Merseyside Police Authority for an eighth year. This year, I will continue to be focussed on steering Merseyside Police though budget cuts, with the aim of protecting frontline policing as far as possible.
'While we will work to
cut £61m from the budget over a four year period, this is
being done against a backdrop of Government proposals that would
represent a massive change to the way the Chief Constable is held
to account.
'The Police Authority has major concerns over the direction being forced on Merseyside by the Coalition Government which will deliver less accountability than we have currently by the introduction of directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). PCCs cannot deliver the same level of governance and scrutiny of performance that is delivered every day by a 17 Member Police Authority and I have genuine fears for the policing of Merseyside. However, regardless of what the future holds, my aim is to keep our local communities engaged, involved and informed.'
'The Police Authority has major concerns over the direction being forced on Merseyside by the Coalition Government which will deliver less accountability than we have currently by the introduction of directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). PCCs cannot deliver the same level of governance and scrutiny of performance that is delivered every day by a 17 Member Police Authority and I have genuine fears for the policing of Merseyside. However, regardless of what the future holds, my aim is to keep our local communities engaged, involved and informed.'
For more information
contact:
Merseyside Police Authority Communications Team
0151 285 5518
